1 Tedeschi Trucks Band

Guitarist/husband Derek Trucks and singer/guitarist/wife Susan Tedeschi front a modern band that makes blues-leaning rock in the countrified vein of the Allman Brothers. Their recorded output is professional classic rock for people who still take Rolling Stone seriously, but live, Trucks’ electrifying slide-guitar prowess really shines.

(Mark Seliger)

2 Tori Amos

Amos’ talent for composition is well known, and last year the singer-songwriter and pianist applied it in an unexpected way when she wrote the music and lyrics for “The Light Princess,” a musical adaptation of a Scottish fairy tale. In May she released “Unrepentant Geraldines,” her 14th studio album.

3 Vince Staples

Hip-hop fans may know this 21-year-old Long Beach, Calif., rapper from his guest verses on several tracks from members of the Odd Future rap crew. Staples is a talented rapper in his own right—and not just because he holds his own alongside the dexterous Earl Sweatshirt—a fact not lost on Def Jam, who recently signed him.

4 Modest Mouse

8 p.m. Friday, July 18, at The Showbox, 1426 First Ave., Seattle; $45–$50 (206-628-3151 or www.showboxonline.com). With Mimicking Birds

Modest Mouse has little to do with Seattle anymore—Isaac Brook lives in Portland, and headlining Sasquatch! in 2011 is the closest the group’s come to playing here recently. Even so, this is a rare chance to see one of Seattle’s most influential post-Nirvana bands in its nominal home city.

5 Brothers from Another

Local hip-hop group Brothers from Another make music about youthful frivolity, which is well suited for mid-July. It has songs about day drinking and Molly Moon’s ice cream; Asher Roth (he of frat-house anthem “I Love College”) appears on a track. The group’s collegiate days are over, however: this is its first show since its members graduated from the University of Washington.

6 Journey

6:45 p.m. Saturday, July 19, at White River Ampitheater, 40601 Auburn Enumclaw Rd. S.E., Auburn; $29.50–$228 (206-825-6200 or www.livenation.com/venues/14577/white-river-amphitheatre). With Tower of Power

7 Ben Watt

Watt is the rare songwriter with an interest in electronic music: he frequently DJs and runs a record label. His solo work, including April’s “Hendra,” a fairly traditional folk-rock album that’s also his first in more than 30 years, pays equal attention to lyricism as it does composition and production.

8 Magik Markers

Over the past decade, Connecticut band Magik Markers has eased itself from abrasive, formless noise songs to more traditional song structures. Last year’s “Surrender to the Fantasy” is the group’s first album after a four-year hiatus.

(Drag City)

9 Jon Hopkins

9 p.m. Wednesday, July 23, at The Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave., Seattle; $17 (206-441-7416 or www.thecrocodile.com).

London producer Jon Hopkins creates organic-sounding electronic music that’s simultaneously insular and overwhelming. Songs like “Open Eye Signal” and “Collider” are complex, layered and fastidiously produced, but with their gradual builds and sweeping bass, they’re also suited for the dancefloor.

10 Rakim

One of rap’s most lyrically gifted emcees, Rakim is best remembered for his work as Eric B. & Rakim in the late ’80s, most notably classic album “Paid in Full.” He’s recently collaborated on singles with DMX and Linkin Park, with whom he released whatever this is supposed to be.

About us

Seattle Times music coordinator Paul de Barros has written about jazz and pop music for the paper since 1982 and is the author of “Jackson Street After Hours: The Roots of Jazz in Seattle.” On Twitter @pdebarros.

Andrew Matson is a freelance writer and close follower of the Seattle pop music scene – especially the genres of rap, rock and electronic. On Twitter @andrewmatson.

Seattle native Gene Stout has been writing about popular music for more than two decades and has interviewed and profiled many of Seattle’s best-known musicians. On Twitter @popmusiccritic.

Charles R. Cross is a Seattle-based writer who has authored eight books, including the bestselling biography of Kurt Cobain, "Heavier Than Heaven." On Twitter @Charlesrcross.

Charlie Zaillian served as music director of Olympia’s influential KAOS-FM, has a particular affection for punk rock and has freelanced for The Seattle Times since 2011. On Twitter @czaillian

Owen R. Smith is a freelance journalist and music writer, country music aficionado, erstwhile sportswriter and one-time novelist. On Twitter @inanedetails.

Gillian G. Gaar has written extensively about music and popular culture and is the author of several books. On Twitter @GillianGaar.

Mike Ramos is a Seattle native and freelance writer who has followed rap music since the early '90s and can sometimes be heard DJing on KEXP FM. On Twitter: @RAM0S206.

Andrew Gospe is a freelance writer and electronic musician who's called Seattle home since 2009. On Twitter: @gospea.